2024 is almost over, with the year - from an AFL lens - packed with drama, excitement and controversy.
Reflecting on the year that was, we've listed our biggest moments and stories from the past 12 months that combined to make 2024 a memorable one for the AFL.
From in-game drama to off-field headlines, these are the nine biggest AFL stories of the year...
2. Hinkley whacked for Ginnivan feud after final
The stakes in games rise tremendously during the month of September as a victory gets you one step closer to the ultimate goal.
Hawthorn's storied run to the semi-final had to be seen to be believed, with many tipsters believing in 'Hokball' lifting the premiership cup a fortnight later.
After the Hawks dismantled the Western Bulldogs in the elimination final, a date was set with Port Adelaide, who most would remember, had already put together one of the games of the season in Round 10.
As it has been for many decades, the brown and gold outfit exuded a healthy arrogance and swagger that rubbed rivals the wrong way, and the Jack Ginnivan's Instagram activity was the cherry on top.
The contentious small forward has made a name for himself by skirting the rules when he was at Collingwood, combining entertainment and theatrics with football IQ, and was topped off by pompous celebrations.
But Ginnivan's "see u in 14 days" comment on the post of Sydney ruckman and former teammate Brodie Grundy implied that Hawthorn would bounce in and out of Adelaide with a victory before heading to the SCG for the preliminary final.
Naturally, the Power cohort didn't take too kindly to that notion.
Port Adelaide was fresh off an 84-point thrashing by Geelong, and a straight-sets exit loomed for the second year running.
Ken Hinkley - who'd been batting away the critics all year - opted to buy into Ginnivan's comments in the lead-up to the do-or-die semi-final, flagging the words as "disrespectful".
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has been issued a 'please explain' by the AFL following a post match run-in with Hawthorn's Jack Ginnivan and James Sicily. @NatYoannidis #9News pic.twitter.com/aRJ4cVxjtK
— 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) September 14, 2024
As it was in Round 10, the clash between the Hawks and Power had everything an on-looker could ask for, including defining shots late in the game.
Port Adelaide led for the majority of the evening but held on for dear life, thanks to a James Sicily shot that hit the post with 34 minutes on the clock in the final term.
As emotions ran high, leaving commiseration for the Hawks and jubilation for the Power, Hinkley was seen taunting Ginnivan about his mid-week comments.
"I'll be honest. Jack said what he said through the week, and I just told him after the game, he wasn't going anywhere," Hinkley said on Channel 7 after the three-point win.
"I don't know social media, I just do what I do, I probably shouldn't have done it, I should apologise to the boys, I shouldn't have probably done it. But the reality was, you throw something our way, we're gonna throw something back occasionally."
It prompted intervention from Sicily on the field and an aggrieved Sam Mitchell in the post-game press conference, who was visibly seething with the actions of his coaching counterpart.
"I can only speak on my club's behalf. And if I think about how my club, the Hawthorn Football Club, dealt with the post-game," Mitchell said post-match.
"We have a very young player who was having some very aggressive words said to him by a much older man, who's been in the game for a long time. And the captain of my club stood up for him."
Asked whether he would seek to speak with Hinkley, Mitchell said: "Absolutely not."
The AFL handed Hinkley a $20,000 fine for breaching AFL Rule 2.3(a), conduct unbecoming.
